For Immediate Release: February 17, 2001
Contact: Derek Smolik, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations

McNeese State Too Much for UT Pan American in Women's Tennis Action Saturday

BEAUMONT -- McNeese State won the close matches and held off the Lady Broncs of the University of Texas-Pan American for a 5-2 win in women's tennis action Saturday.

The Lady Broncs didn't go down easily to MSU.  The pair of Erica Espinoza and Mireya Villarreal won the opening doubles match by an 8-3 count.  But McNeese State came back to take the number one and number two doubles matches by 9-8 and 8-6 counts to win the doubles point.

Villarreal won her singles match as well, by a 6-0, 6-0, count to tie the match at 1-1.  Alana Breen was the only other Lady Bronc to win a match after that, taking a 6-4, 7-5, decision at number five.  Julie Fife battled, but fell by a 6-2, 1-6, 10-3 count to Somer McFarlain at number three.  Celine Merlini failed in her attempt to win her 17th match, falling by a 6-4, 6-3, score to Yvonne Bresler at number one.

The Lady Broncs fell to 4-5 on the season with the loss.  They will return to action on Sunday morning when they face Lamar in Beaumont.

McNeese State 5, UTPA 2
Beaumont, Texas
Women's Tennis

Singles
No. 1 -- Yvonne Bresler (MSU) d. Celine Merlini (UTPA), 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 -- Marlie Leroux (MSU) d. Eve Nickelson (UTPA), 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 -- Somer McFarlain (MSU) d. Julie Fife (UTPA), 6-2, 1-6, 10-3
No. 4 -- Megan Taylor (MSU) d. Jessica Brown (UTPA), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 -- Alana Breen (UTPA) d. Allison Lui (MSU), 6-4, 7-5
No. 6 -- Mireya Villareal (UTPA) d. Elma Nuhbegovic (MSU), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 -- Bressler/Taylor (MSU) d. Merlini/Nickelson (UTPA), 9-8
No. 2 -- Leroux/McFarlain (MSU) d. Brown/Fife (UTPA), 8-6
No. 3 -- Espinoza/Villarreal (UTPA) d. Lui/Nuhbegovic (MSU), 8-3

Record: UTPA 4-5